"Being debt free is better than spending feels."
This blog will follow the ups and downs of living on a beer budget ($40,000/year) in Ottawa. I am a 20-something girl who came out of 2 degrees with $33,000 in student loans. Through dedication and hard work that was paid off in less than a year and I now own a home. I am not a financial planner or expert, but have developed an interest in my finances and how to make the most of my income. Questions? Email me at bigcitybeerbudget@gmail.com

Wednesday, February 22, 2012

Planning Europe Trip to the Last Detail!

I am not a traveler who can book an incoming and outgoing flight, leaving everything in the middle up to chance. I buy every train ticket in advance, book every hotel, and figure out which museums I'm going to see when I arrive.

Being the hyper-planner I am, I've read through three Eastern Europe travel books from the library already, and have a rough budget set out.

Here's what I've come up with thus far budget-wise:

Aeroplan

Aug. 10: 06:12 - 21:20

Train: Bratislava to Budapest

$25

Ottawa - London

$117

Budapest (Aug. 19 - 22)

Aug. 26: 11:35 - 22:21

Hotel (Airbnb)

$132

Venice - Ottawa

Food

$125

Souvenirs

$15

London (Aug. 10-13)

Attractions

$40

Hotel (only 2 ni. need to be paid)

$180

Transit

$40

Food

$120

Souvenirs

$40

Train: Budapest to Zagreb

$56

Attractions

$20

Transit

$30

Zagreb (Aug. 22-25)

Hotel (Airbnb)

$130

Flight: London to Prague

$163

Food

$100

Souvenirs

$15

Prague (Aug. 13-16)

Attractions

$60

Hotel (Airbnb)

$131

Transit

$20

Food

$150

Souvenirs

$15

Train: Zagreb to Venice

$110

Attractions

$50

Transit

$50

Train: Prague to Bratislava

$20

Bratislava (Aug. 16-19)

Hotel

$118

Food

$70

Souvenirs

$15

Attractions

$25

Transit

$15

In my attempt to make this big 3-0 birthday trip a bit more upscale, but keeping with my beer budget, I am opting to stay in neither hostels or hotels. I'm going to give Airbnb another chance - my first experience staying in Ottawa in a room rented through Airbnb was a disaster!

Here's a look at my first booking in Prague (I read over and over how busy Prague is in July/August, so I booked in advance!